A downpipe that was never connected
Years of roof water, discharging at the base of a wall.
In short: Stormwater not connected on a Schofields property.
What we found
A downpipe on a Schofields property that had never been connected to the stormwater system.
What that means in practice
Every rain event for the life of the house has emptied a section of roof directly at the base of a wall.
Why it matters more on clay
The Cumberland Plain soils here swell and shrink with moisture. Concentrating water at one point of the footing produces movement at that point and nowhere else, and differential movement is what cracks walls.
What it costs to fix
Very little. Connecting a downpipe is an afternoon for a plumber.
What it may already have cost
That depends on how long it has been that way, which is why the report reads it alongside any cracking found.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Schofields. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
